Proverbs 22

1A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.WEBA good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.

2The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.WEBThe rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.

3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.WEBA prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.WEBThe result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.WEBThorns and snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays far from them.

6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.WEBTrain up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.WEBThe rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.

8He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.WEBHe who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.WEBHe who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.WEBDrive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.WEBHe who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.

12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.WEBYahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

13The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.WEBThe sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”

14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.WEBThe mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.

15Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.WEBFolly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.WEBWhoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.

17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.WEBTurn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.

18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.WEBFor it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

19That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.WEBI teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in Yahweh.

20Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,WEBHaven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,

21That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?WEBTo teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:WEBDon’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;

23For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.WEBfor Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:WEBDon’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,

25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.WEBlest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.

26Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.WEBDon’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

27If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?WEBIf you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.WEBDon’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.

29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.WEBDo you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.